A Reconstruction of Proto-Taranoan:
Phonology and Inflectional Morphology
SERGIO MEIRA
Rice University / Museu Goeldi
Comparative and classificatory studies of Cariban languages, despite
their long history (starting with Gilij in 1782), have been few and
unsatisfactory, mainly due to the lack of necessary documentation of
the languages in question. Based on a large amount of new descriptive
data, as well as on published sources, the present work attempts to
demonstrate the closer genetic relationship between a subgroup of
three Cariban languages, Akuriy�, Tiriy� and Karihona, the last two of
which were considered to belong to very distant branches of the family
in a still widely cited classification (Durbin 1977). This
demonstration takes the form of a reconstruction of the main aspects
of the segmental phonology and inflectional morphology (person,
number, evidentiality, tense/aspect/mood) of the proto-language, which
the author proposes to call Proto-Taranoan. A preliminary etymological
dictionary, as well as some remarks on the history of the speakers, is
also included.
ISBN 3 89586 534 6.
LINCOM Studies in Native American Linguistics 30.
Ca. 300 pp. Ca. USD 80 / DM 138 / � 48.
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A Grammar of Iranian Azari
including comparisons with Persian
YAVAR DEHGHANI
This study intends to develop a grammar of Iranian Azari which is
spoken mainly in the north western parts of Iran: it consists of
phonology, morphology, and the syntax of simple and complex clauses.
Since Persian has a prominent influence on this language, the
phonology, morphology and syntax of borrowed words are also discussed
and when appropriate, the constructions in the language are compared
to that of Persian. Table of Contents: Chapter 1 contains a
description of the situation of the language, the language family, the
speakers, informants, different dialects, and previous works on the
language. Chapter 2 introduces the phonological system of Azari, which
includes the discussion of the phonemic inventory, phonological
processes, including vowel harmony with an attempt to explain it based
on autosegmental theory. Chapter 3 deals with the morphology of the
language, trying to distinguish the derivational and inflectional
suffixes, and discussing the underlying forms of inflectional
suffixes. In this chapter, compounding and reduplication are also
discussed. Chapter 4 discusses the syntax of simple clauses including
the case system, constituent order, imperatives, copular,
interrogative, and passive constructions. In this chapter, the
distinction between complements and adjuncts is explored. At the end
of this chapter, morphosyntactic borrowings from Persian are
discussed. Chapter 5 illustrates the syntax of complex clauses
including causative constructions, complement clauses, relative
clauses and adverbial clauses.
Azari minimal pairs and texts are provided in the Appendix.
ISBN 3 89586 991 0.
LINCOM Studies in Asian Linguistics 30.
Ca. 280pp. Ca. EUR 107.36 / USD 64 / DM 120 / � 40.
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Contact-induced Perspectives in Uralic Languages
AGO K�NNAP, University of Tartu
The author of the book would make an attempt to outline a few features
of a recent significant paradigm change in the Uralic (Finno-Ugric and
Samoyed) linguistics. The main factor of linguistic processes is
supposed to be language contacts, not so much a spontaneous change of
languages, although the latter should also be borne in mind. The
concept of linguistic affinity has also been subjected to
criticism. The common features of Uralic languages developed thanks to
various contacts among different languages whereby a language of the
lingua franca type could operate as an intermediary.
Thus any Uralic language could always differ from other languages of
this group, partly retaining its origin from source language(s),
unknown us to date. Later on it could also, additionally, become more
similar to other Uralic languages thanks to language contacts or, on
the other hand, it could become more different as a result of contacts
with others than Uralic languages. The role of a language prestige in
the process of language changes through history is being emphasized at
present. The similarities between Finnic-Lapp and Samoyed languages
have earlier been regarded as a result of a better survival of the
Proto-Uralic heritage at the extreme peripheries of the expansive zone
of occurance of Uralic languages. But the Finnic-Lapp--Samoyed
similarities may hypothetically be regarded as ontime
areal-typological (contact) similarities. Northern Indo-European
languages - Germanic, Baltic and Slavic - are supposed to have
developed so that the speakers of Uralic language form learned to
speak that of the Indo-European.
Ago K�nnap is Professor of Uralic Languages of the University of Tartu.
ISBN 3 89586 964 3.
LINCOM Studies in Asian Linguistics 39.
Ca. 120pp. Ca. EUR 35 / DM 68 / USD 35 / � 24.
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